Bulgaria Needs New Political Parties

What usually happens when a country's government resigns as a result of mass protests triggered by poverty, corruption and a lack of social justice? An opposition party wins the elections.

While the second phase of this scenario is likely (though not certain) to happen in Bulgaria, few are excited by the prospect.

A great number of Bulgarians believe that the main goal of both the ruling center-right GERB, whose government stepped down last week, and the major oppositional Bulgarian Socialist Party, is to serve the oligarchs.

In fact, there is not a single major Bulgarian party that currently enjoys a sufficient degree of respect. They have all been in power, and they have all failed to combat the rampant corruption in the country.

Bulgarians are deeply disillusioned with political parties in general – and the fact that some protesters endorsed the establishment of some sort of "partyless democracy" is no surprise.

Few dare speak about the formation of new parties, even though this may exactly what Bulgaria needs.

New parties that refuse to serve the oligarchs.

Since there are virtually no left-wing social democratic parties in Bulgaria (BSP is pro-oligarchic), this may be the place to start.

Chokey, I doubt you would recognise a Little Englander if he were to turn up on your doorstep complete with sola topee and gun-boat. However, please feel free to expose your ignorance of, and to, the world....

What Bulgaria needs first is a crusading press that is undaunted by political or corrupt "pressure" A newspaper that is truly free, courageous and crusading would stem the power of those unelected currently wielding influence over government and authorities, it would expose corruption and bring down individuals and institutions that seem, at the moment, to be untouchable. What is more is that all this could be achieved without an election. Pie in the sky maybe but life is not worth living without dreams.

***One democratic socialist paradigm is the PdL (Die Linke) in Germany, with strong support in a number of German states goo.gl/WGytf
***Another is the parti de gauche in France http://goo.gl/Bmvcb
***A third is Syriza in Greece goo.gl/8NjNo